AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 87

poachers might lead rangers to the middlemen that finance and
orchestrate the black market trade.
Clark had brought a pair of Israeli police K-9 officers to Kilaguni,
and was working with them to coordinate deployment of attack
dogs capable of stopping a fleeing poacher and holding him (they are
nearly always men) until rangers can safely complete the capture.
It is, however, a more complex problem than simply capturing poachers, Muasya explained. Population growth has fueled
increasing demand for farming and grazing land, and there are
more frequent incursions into the protected areas for those purposes. Farmers compete with elephants, lions, and a host of other
animals-the very resource that finances, through tourism taxes
and fees, 70 percent of the KWS budget-for territory and precious water in this equatorial country. KWS rangers and pilots
spend more and more time each year guarding against this kind
of incursion and depletion. While the loss of 59 rhinos in a year-
in a country with an estimated population of a few hundred of the
animals, at most-is far from sustainable, it represents a "success
story," Muasya said. Losses in years past were higher still.
As the government devotes more resources to the mission,
poachers are also upgrading, empowered to do so by the ever more
lucrative ivory and rhino horn trade. There is concern that poaching gangs have gained access to rocket-propelled grenades, satellite
phones, and perhaps even night vision equipment. Clark seeks
donations that will allow Kenya to keep up with what amounts to
an arms race-and a race against extinction that would devastate a
country whose economy depends largely on tourism.
'IT'S A WAR.' Flying low, KWS pilots learn to watch for thin columns

of smoke from cooking fires, although poachers have learned to
limit such telltales. Circling vultures are often the first indication
that poachers have made another kill. Pilots must be cunning, and
avoid heading directly toward their quarry, lest they alert the watchful criminals and prompt them to vanish into the bush.
Rangers on the ground must be equally cunning. "It's a war, basically," said Kevin Opondo, a ranger assigned to the rhino sanctuary
within Tsavo West. "Nobody's coming here for a Christmas party."
Clark, a U.S. Marine long since retired from active duty,

A THIN FLYING FORCE
Kenya Wildlife Service Airwing currently operates 11 fixed-wing
aircraft (three of which are to be rebuilt after accidents) and
two helicopters, with 12 pilots. The Airwing is based in Nairobi,
where the maintenance staff also services other aircraft.

disagrees with the use of the word "war"-he describes it in more
nuanced terms, something more like a police action, although the
casualty rate among the KWS exceeds that of many armies.
"KWS has lost 61 people in the line of duty over the past 20 years,
and it's become increasingly frequent," Clark said, noting that about
1,000 rangers have been actively deployed for wildlife protection
during that time. Their numbers are rapidly increasing, with 575
rangers being trained to boost the ranks of those deployed to fight
poaching; about 1,500 more rangers are assigned to other duties
in the field. While the government has increased its investment,
and is expanding the ranger force, Kenya needs more support, he
said, including more aircraft- Super Cubs, Huskys, and a Super
Decathlon-are on his wish list.
Pilots flying over protected land in aircraft with KWS insignia can
deter poaching by their very presence, although the force remains
thinly spread. The KWS Airwing has about a dozen aircraft (three
of which were being rebuilt as of July 2014) and a dozen pilots to
cover a country nearly the size of Texas. Clark wishes that he could
bring groups of pilots like Wagstaff, Sugden, and Spencer every year,
because flying for KWS demands a high level of skill that deteriorates
quickly in the absence of recurrent training.
Benefactors like Sugden and Spencer (who supplied satellite
beacons capable of reporting position and summoning help); organizations including The Charles A. and Anne Morrow Lindbergh
Foundation, which has supplied aircraft, fuel, and other resources;
and individuals like Wagstaff have made a difference, Clark said,
but much more is needed. "To my mind, it is unrealistic and it is
also unfair to expect a developing country, particularly Kenya, or
any others, to carry this enormous burden of protecting world heritage by itself," Clark said. "They're left carrying a burden which is
really too heavy for them."
AOPA
EMAIL james.moore@aopa.org

www.aopa.org/pilot AOPA PILOT | 87


http://www.aopa.org/pilot

AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014

Contents
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - Cover1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - Cover2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - Contents
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 4
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 5
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 6
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 7
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 8
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 9
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 10
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 11
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 12
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 13
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 14
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 15
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 16
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 17
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 18
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 19
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 20
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 21
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 22
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 23
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 24
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 25
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 26
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 27
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 28
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 29
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 30
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 31
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 32
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 33
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 34
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 35
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 36
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 37
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 38
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 39
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 40
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 41
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 42
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 43
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 44
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 45
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 46
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 47
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 48
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 49
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 50
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 51
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 52
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 53
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 54
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 55
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 56
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 57
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 58
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 59
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 60
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 61
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 62
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 63
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 64
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - R-1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - R-2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - R-3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - R-4
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 65
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 65a
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 65b
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 66
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 67
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - 68
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AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - Cover3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2014 - Cover4
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